International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War & Armed Conflict (6 Nov, 2018)

We observed the UN’s International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict yesterday. The impacts of war are and will continue causing damage to the natural environment. We should all come together and work together to find ways to reduce environmental destruction caused by armed conflict and war.

Many conflicts and wars have occurred over the year. Many still happen in Africa and it might take years for Africa to recognize the need to prevent environmental disasters during these times. However, Conflict and war have occurred all over the world and many or all of them have had a devastating impact on the environment. We look at some of the contribution of these conflict to deterioration of environment over the years and present day.

In the Eritrea and Ethiopia war of 1961 – 1991 the environment was affected massive by;

Reduction of country forest by third

Resulted in massive soil erosion

Reduction of wildlife population

Sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs occurred

Led to massive crop failure

World War 1 (1914 – 1981) and World War 2 (1939 – 1945) which resulted in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the environment

Human were affected and environment suffered largely

It caused air pollution emanating from dust and radioactive debris

Fire burned for 6 weeks destroying plants and wildlife

Pollution of water by radioactive particles occurred

Damned thousands of tons of munitions e.g. landmines on the ground which resulted in contamination of the ground for decades

In East Africa conflict like the Congo, Somali have resulted to;

Deforestation

Soil erosion

Spiraling population

Uncontrolled urban migration

Afghanistan war of 1990 – 2007 accelerated destruction and degradation of forest and wetlands

Afghanistan forest decreased to 38%

Led to drought

Desertification

Loss of animal species

Environmental destruction

Threaten migration of birds number dropped to 85% in the united states

Displacement of humans beings and settlement of population in small areas greatly affecting land

Sierra Leon civil war in the 50s and 60s of the 19th century

Resulted in deforestation

Population pressure on land

Depopulation of some areas

There are countries in the world that are still experiencing conflict and due to these the environment continues to suffer. It is vital for the world to recognize the impact of war on environment a place measure to curb this degradation.